The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-06-17

steeping In alcohol Hinda"-with q
sudden inspiration--.'do you think
could do the washing?"
You, Miss Roxy-oh, git out ~
"But. Hinda. senebody must
1T amt no work for 4 young lady,
Miss Roxy" a&id Hinda, decisively.
Everything is work for a young
lady" pleaded Roxy. "if it has got to
be done"
Hinda shook her head. "Yo'n
break yo' back, honey, an parboil
yo' hands an"
"Oh, don't mind ali that, Hinda,
II only Aunt Sally would think the
clothes looked decent" urged Roxy.
''Tell me how to do it, Hinda- there's
. darling"
"Well, honey, 20 put de clothes
Asoak de night afore, unwilling began
up thin; an yo' bile 'em well, an yo'
doan git de starch too stiff, an be
suah yo' rensh de clothes right smart,
an'-ohl OIL dar goes 60 pain in my
| po' ole bones agin, jes for all de world
like crooked lightnin'."
So Roxy returned home not much
wiser than she went. "Pd.give all my
algebra and geometry" sighed she, "if
only knew how to wash"
Joy OF joys! as she went past Squire
Honeywell's big cream-colored house
she saw a colony OF white garments,
veritable flags OF truce to her troub-
led mind, futtering in the wind from a
line. in the back garden.
'"rhey're washing, said Roxy to her
sell, with a Frightening face "Now's
the time for mo to 90 In and see how
it is done."
She slipped insinuatingly in at the
open kitchen door, whence q cloud OF
i white steam Aoated forth. Good
morning. Docia," she said to Miss
Theodocia Honeywell, the Squire's
daughter. "Do you suppose your
grandmother would like q jar OF my
wild plums? They're a nice color,
and keep their flavor beautifully.
No, don't stop your work" las Miss
Theodosia paused courteously, and
began to wipe her soapy arms on
roller-towsl): ''go on. just as if l
wasn't here"
And she engerly settled herself to
take note OF the stout young woman's
every motion. But Miss Theodocia's
ideas OF politeness were agreat deal too
well defined to allow her to spend her
time in washing when there was
company,
You're very kind, I'm sure" said
she, "but theclothes can wait. dare
cay granny would relish the plums ,and
anyhow we've city bcarder this
month, an artist young gentleman,
and any little luxury comes in handy
fo- the table,"
An artist2' wistfully repeated
Roxy.
"Yes," nodded Docia. "such pict-
ures as he paints with squeeze Or
two out OF his color-tubs, and dan
OF his brushesl declare it seems
like magic. You paint. too. hoxy
fessed Roxy. thinking guiltily OF the
peach blossom plaques and the panels
covered with abortive attemps ut
autumn leaves that she had spoiled.
"But painting Is no use, Docia. For
q woman, mean. I'd q deal rather
know how to--wash."
Docia Honey burst out laughing.
What odd things you do say, Roxy"
cried she. "But when it comes to
painting being no use, just wish you
could see the little bits OF canvas and
mill-board that our Mr.. Jefferys gets
@ hundred and fifty dollars for. A
Observation-Disclosures! Going,
are you?"-for, since the business OF
washing was temporarily suspended,
poor Roxy's purpose was blighted.
"Well, I'm sure it was very kind
of you to think ofthe preserved plums,
and we'll be very thankful for them,
especially since mas citron all mould
ed, and the blackberries fermented,
and blew the tops off the cans and
broke the cellar windows. And, Roxy,
II I'll stop in some afternoon will you
show mo that new crochet stitchY-
the one in shells and waves, you know.
like Mrs. Deacon Dodd's shawl"
Roxy promised that she would, and
set forth. wondering to herself why it
was that she lacked the moral courage
to ask Docia for instruction in my
mysteriss OF the wash-tub just as
frankly as Docia had requested her
assistance in unravelling the perplexi.
ties of the new crochet stitch.
II think must be eadreadful u goose"
sighed Roxy. "But, all the same, that
washing has got to be done, whether
well or i'll. 1t can't be worse than
those algebra problems in the second
book. As x and y equals Z, 80 must
soap, water. and plenty OF sunshine
equal clean clothes"
| And 80 the next morning, when
Aunt Sally had eaten the ham and
eggs which Roxy had now learned to
fry in SO appetizing a manner, and
| drunk the coffee which was as clear
as any amber, che set fourth on her
daily task of root and herb hunting,
and Roxy carried the basket OF clothes
out to the shore of the brook, where
q mighty old chesnut tree spread it's
dome OF shade, washed and wrung and
rinsed them until it was mercy that
there were any two threads left to-
gether. Then she hung them out on
the lines, which she had stretched
from tree to tree, skevering each art
icle safely in it's place with wooden
pins, SO that no frolicsome wind
should lure it away.
/ "And now. said Roxy, as with head
slightly on one side she viewed the re-
suit OF her prowess, II think Pye
earned " little rest" And drawing
"Franklin Square" novel from her
pocket, Roxy sat down under the big
tree, within sun n-bonnet thrown back,
her loose curls tangled over her fore
head, and her round white arms still
bare to the shoulder, to read, and be.
fore she knew it she was asleep.
\ When she awakened she was no
longer alone. Between her and the
sunshine there was-could she believe
her eyes2--yea, verify there was
9 young man hurriedly work
ing at a portable easel, which
was set up on a level spot on
the grass, with all the composure and
aplomb of a young man who felt him
self to be in the right place in crea.
tion's diagram. She looked at him
with solemn, sleep-shadowed eyes; he
looked back at her exactly as if
she was part OF the landscape, and
| worked on In silence.
!" Are you an artist?" said she.
"Are you painting the old chestnut
tree? Oh, you must be the gentleman
that Docia Honeywell told me about"
And then abe silddenlv remembprad